Why: The "Star Wars"-inspired comedy "Fanboys" landed in local theaters last week, bringing a reasonable amount of low-level chuckles. But if you really want to see how to spoof a space series, check out this just-for-fun 1999 laugher, which takes its cue from "Star Trek." (Tip: The more people you watch it with, the more fun it will be.)

'GALAXY' IS ON A QUEST FOR HOLIDAY FUN

By Michael H. Kleinschrodt, Movie critic
Friday, December 24, 1999

Galaxy Quest, " the only family film opening over the long Christmas weekend, is an affectionate tribute to the sci-fi television genre and its legion of fans who flock to conventions dedicated to beloved series long after the shows have been canceled.

An especially bright script by David Howard and Robert Gordon skewers well-worn sci-fi cliches and cast squabbles.

In the movie, it's been 20 years since the television show "Galaxy Quest" was axed. However, Questarians, as the show's fans are known, still flock to conventions at which the cast members faithfully appear to sign autographs, some more willingly than others.

For Jason Nesmith (Tim Allen, "The Santa Clause"), playing the commander of the NSEA Protector was the role of a lifetime. He lives for the adulation he receives from his fans at these conventions. Nesmith's enduring popularity is a thorn in the side of his castmates, particularly Alexander Dane (Alan Rickman, "Truly, Madly, Deeply"), a Shakespearean actor mortified to find himself typecast as a heavily made up alien scientist.

Other crew members include Gwen DeMarco (Sigourney Weaver, "Aliens, " hidden beneath a blond wig and a strategically enhanced bra), who played the Protector's communications officer; Fred Kwan (Tony Shalhoub, "Men in Black"), who played the ship's engineer; and Tommy Webber (Daryl Mitchell, "Home Fries"), who, as a child, played the ship's pilot.

At a typical "Galaxy Quest" convention, the actors find that one group of costumed aliens is the real deal. The Thermians, led by Mathesar (Enrico Colantoni, "Stigmata"), have watched the show from space unaware that it is fictional. The Thermians are convinced that Nesmith and his crew are their only hope of defeating the evil Sarris, so they've built a fully functioning Protector complete with the mysterious Omega 13 device for which Sarris is willing to kill.

Half thinking the whole story is a practical joke (and half thinking that it's an audition), the actors agree to check out the ship. That's when convention host Guy Fleegman (Sam Rockwell, "The Green Mile") asks to rejoin the crew. It turns out that Fleegman had played Crewman No. 6 in one episode of "Galaxy Quest, " only to be killed by a lava monster before the opening credits. Only after it's too late does Fleegman realize that he has volunteered himself to be Crewman No. 6 once again.

Half the fun of the movie is watching as the actors settle back into their television roles and regain the confidence with which they once flew the Protector. Among the plotlines skewered are the desperate search for a fuel source, the seemingly cute alien tribe that turns out to be a vicious horde, malfunctioning transporters and, naturally, Fleegman's constant worry that each scene will be his last.

Standouts in smaller roles are Patrick Breen ("Men in Black") as a Thermian who worships Dane's character and newcomer Justin Long as the teen-aged "Galaxy Quest" fan whose obsessive knowledge of the show saves the day.

Allen and company, under the direction of Dean Parisot ("Home Fries"), clearly are having fun with this movie. Despite a slow beginning, audiences will, too.